Translational research on Autism: An integrated pathway from mechanisms to precision diagnosis and treatment

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), characterized by complex etiology and high heterogeneity, represents a major challenge for the global medical and scientific communities in its mechanistic elucidation and development of innovative diagnostics and therapies. In China, autism research has encountered persistent bottlenecks, including the gap between basic and clinical research and delays in translating novel diagnostic and therapeutic technologies into practice. This study focuses on translational research in ASD, emphasizing an integrated framework of "precision early screening, mechanistic elucidation, and targeted intervention." It reviews ASD research from three key aspects: biomarkers, neural circuits and molecular mechanisms, and novel intervention technologies and their clinical translation. In the future, it is essential to integrate multimodal data and artificial intelligence. Through resource sharing and technological collaboration, a closed-loop system of "mechanism-technology-intervention" can be established to drive the transformation of ASD diagnosis and treatment toward precision and individualization, ultimately achieving a comprehensive breakthrough from precision screening to precision intervention.